ABSTRACT
Cancer-associated, loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding subunits of the BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) chromatin-remodeling complexes1-8 often cause drastic chromatin accessibility changes, especially in important regulatory regions9-19. However, it remains unknown how these changes are established over time (for example, immediate consequences or long-term adaptations), and whether they are causative for intracomplex synthetic lethalities, abrogating the formation or activity of BAF complexes9,20-24. In the present study, we use the dTAG system to induce acute degradation of BAF subunits and show that chromatin alterations are established faster than the duration of one cell cycle. Using a pharmacological inhibitor and a chemical degrader of the BAF complex ATPase subunits25,26, we show that maintaining genome accessibility requires constant ATP-dependent remodeling. Completely abolishing BAF complex function by acute degradation of a synthetic lethal subunit in a paralog-deficient background results in an almost complete loss of chromatin accessibility at BAF-controlled sites, especially also at superenhancers, providing a mechanism for intracomplex synthetic lethalities.
Subject(s)
Chromatin/genetics , DNA Helicases/metabolism , Multiprotein Complexes/genetics , Nuclear Proteins/metabolism , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Acetylation , Animals , Cell Line , Chromatin/metabolism , DNA Helicases/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Drosophila/cytology , Enhancer Elements, Genetic , Gene Knockout Techniques , Histones/genetics , Histones/metabolism , Humans , Multiprotein Complexes/metabolism , Nuclear Proteins/genetics , Transcription Factors/geneticsABSTRACT
The histone acetyl reader bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is an important regulator of chromatin structure and transcription, yet factors modulating its activity have remained elusive. Here we describe two complementary screens for genetic and physical interactors of BRD4, which converge on the folate pathway enzyme MTHFD1 (methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, cyclohydrolase and formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase 1). We show that a fraction of MTHFD1 resides in the nucleus, where it is recruited to distinct genomic loci by direct interaction with BRD4. Inhibition of either BRD4 or MTHFD1 results in similar changes in nuclear metabolite composition and gene expression; pharmacological inhibitors of the two pathways synergize to impair cancer cell viability in vitro and in vivo. Our finding that MTHFD1 and other metabolic enzymes are chromatin associated suggests a direct role for nuclear metabolism in the control of gene expression.
